The Town FilesBig Sandy, Montana
Town in Chouteau County · population 605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $60,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.4
Big Sandy is a town of 605 people in Chouteau County, Montana. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Montana towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Montana towns, hipper than 77% of Montana towns.
How Big Sandy ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Sandy is worth $187,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $60,521, which is more affordable than 77% of Montana towns. Median rent is $550 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Sandy | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $550 | $893 |
| Median household income | $60,521 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Big Sandy
| People | Big Sandy | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.1% | 86.6% |
Weather in Big Sandy
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 13.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.8 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Big Sandy since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Chouteau County since 1996
Chouteau County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4801: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| July 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4127: Flooding |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chouteau County
Chouteau County had 1,237 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,304 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Big Sandy itself the ACS puts it at 11%.
Public schools in Big Sandy
3 public schools with 192 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| F E Miley School | PK-6 | 111 | 12.3 |
| Big Sandy High School | 9-12 | 54 | 7.7 |
| Big Sandy 7-8 | 7-8 | 27 | 13.5 |
Towns near Big Sandy
- Rocky Boy West, MT9.9 mi · 1,042 people · home $103,600
Big Sandy questions
Is Big Sandy, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Sandy scores better for retirees than 59% of Montana towns and quieter than 54%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Big Sandy?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Sandy is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,521, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $550 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Sandy?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.3 inches of precipitation a year and 45.8 inches of snow.
Does Big Sandy get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Big Sandy in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)